JON HELGASON/Arizona Daily Wildcat Crystal Farley safely slides into third base Sunday against Louisiana Lafayette at Hillenbrand Stadium. The softball team begins Pac-10 play today in Tempe against Arizona State.

After playing 35 games, the Arizona softball team begins its real season tonight.

The No. 3 Wildcats (31-4) take the trip north to Tempe to open the Pacific 10 Conference season with a two-game series against rival Arizona State beginning tonight at 7 p.m.

Two weeks ago, the No. 6 Sun Devils knocked the defending national champions out of the championship bracket of the Kia Classic tournament with a 3-0 setback in Fullerton, Calif.

With a 24-0 record at home, any troubles that the Wildcats have encountered this season have been on the road.

In two tournaments away from Tucson thus far, UA has compiled a 7-4 record.

Arizona assistant coach Larry Ray said he feels the change in scenery is something that should not have a major impact on the performances of his players.

"We're not going to be able to sleep in our own beds, and that's about it," Ray said of the weekend trip. "This team knows that our record on the road is an indication that they need to concentrate a little more."

While Arizona has shown a greater focus against ranked opponents this season by compiling a 10-1 record, its lone defeat was to then-No. 8 ASU.

After the Sun Devils took round one in the intrastate battle, head coach Mike Candrea has nothing but praise for the quality of the team his Wildcats will face this weekend.

"They have a very strong nucleus of seniors, and you saw what happened last year with us," Candrea said. "Seniors tend to play the game with a lot more urgency because it's their last chance.

"They're playing with a lot more confidence, and a lot more focus. They're a good team, they've got good talent physically, and I think mentally right now they're playing as well as they ever have," Candrea said.

With a 30-7 record, the Sun Devils are just one of seven teams in the Pac-10 currently ranked in the Top 10.

The Wildcats will have to be on the top of their game for the remainder of the regular season to avoid a severe drop-off, and no one knows that better than Candrea.

"The thing with the Pac-10 is that anyone can beat anyone," Candrea said. "You have to come to play or else you're going to get beat, and I think that's what makes the Pac-10 teams so strong in postseason play."

"Once we get through April and May, you've been through all the knockdowns and drag-outs, and you're pretty prepared," Candrea said.

With the paint still wet on the Wildcats' sixth NCAA championship banner from a year ago, UA coaches realize that once again they are the marked team on everyone's conference schedule.

Things will be no different this weekend in Tempe.

"Every team we face is shooting for us," Ray said. "If we don't have that same attitude (about them), we're going to get snakebitten."